2 Corinthians 4:16 So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

Things are not necessarily what they seem, or what we think they are on the outside.  We may see devastation of the moment, but God sees the bigger picture.  We may see confusion, but God is ordering things.  We may think that there is no plan, but God is working his grace daily.  We may assume that things are not going to ever change, but God is unfolding his perfect will.  We may only recognize our own inadequacies, weaknesses and mistakes, but God sees his child that he loves.  We can’t give up!  God is working, and all his works are perfect.  He is making a new life within us, even if we can’t see it yet.

How do I submit to God’s plan, His timing?  I choose to trust, to have faith, that I don’t know everything!  Focus on and feel the new life that He is creating within me.  Welcome the unfamiliar changes, the new ways of thinking, the new attitudes and behaviors.  Trust in the things that He is teaching me.  Adopt these things into my habits, my prayers, and my thoughts.  Know that interspersed with it all, is His perfect grace, guiding me and being patient with me.

Dear Jesus, thank you for your sovereignty.  Thank you for your all-knowing, all-seeing character.  Thank you for perfect plan for my life, and for knowing me better than I know myself.  Thank you for your beautiful gift of grace that loves and protects me and takes care of me, even when I am so unworthy.  Help me to recognize and honor where you are working in my life.  Help me to model that to my kids and to show them that you are their constant.  Let your character reflect in our lives.  Let this day be lived with joy.  Remind me that even though the last year has been chaotic and painful, that you still had a plan.  You’ve constructed the past year in a way I could not have possibly done.  I can look back now and see that you have had a plan all along, and you orchestrated it, all the while dumping buckets of grace on me.  You’ve softened my hard edges.  You’ve put words of wisdom in my mouth that could have only come from you.  You’ve given me superhuman strength to make it through sleep deprivation and everything else involved with having a new born on my own.  You’ve shown me a deeper joy than I have ever experienced.  How is this possible?  After experiencing such feelings of devastation, of pure tragedy!  It can only be explained as your work, your faithfulness and love to me, your sometimes pathetic, always imperfect, but deeply devoted daughter.  I am forever grateful and in awe of you.